All posts tagged ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’

A small sushi restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, is tucked away near a Tokyo subway station. Only sushi is served, with no time wasted on appetizers or beer. You must make reservations months or even a year in advance — just so you can say you’ve had a taste of the best sushi in the world. The proprietor, 85-year-old Jiro Ono, is the subject of the 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

Jiro Ono has turned sushi making into an art form, so admired that many, including celebrity chef and world traveler Anthony Bourdain, consider him to be the best sushi chef in the world. Jiro’s philosophy of striving for perfection in his work is inspiring. He is so focused on achieving excellence in each piece of sushi that he abhors days off. For most of his life, his days and even his nights have been filled with thoughts of his craft, to the point where he would even dream of sushi. He shares these stories with a smile, giving you a hint of his sense of humor underneath his stern appearance.

As you might expect, the documentary contains shot after shot of mouthwatering sushi being masterfully created and placed on a shining black plate. Just when the film begins to feel repetitive, the focus shifts to the relationship Jiro has with his two sons who are following in his footsteps. Their bond as they work together for a shared passion is the true heart of the story.